“The CIA’s assessment, in which officials have said they have high confidence, is the most definitive to date linking Mohammed to the operation,” the newspaper said citing people familiar with the matter. “In reaching its conclusions, the CIA examined multiple sources of intelligence, including a phone call that the prince’s brother Khalid bin Salman, the Saudi ambassador to the United States, had with Khashoggi,” the Washington Post added noting that “Khalid told Khashoggi <…> that he should go to the Saudi consulate in Istanbul to retrieve the documents and gave him assurances that it would be safe to do so.”

Saudi Arabia’s Ambassador to the United States Prince Khalid bin Salman has denied telling journalist Jamal Khashoggi to go to Turkey. “The last contact I had with Mr. Khashoggi was via text on Oct 26 2017. I never talked to him by phone and certainly never suggested he go to Turkey for any reason,” the ambassador wrote on his Twitter account. “I ask the US goverment to release any information regarding this claim,” he added.
Khashoggi, known for his criticism of Saudi Arabia’s policies, left his home country and moved to the United States in 2017. He worked for The Washington Post, analyzing the situation in Saudi Arabia and the country’s foreign policy. On October 20, Saudi authorities announced that the journalist died in a fight in the Saudi Consulate in Istanbul. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said that the murder had been carefully planned. The international community condemned Khashoggi’s murder and called for a transparent investigation.

On November 14, Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu emphasized the need for an international investigation into Khashoggi’s murder.

On Thursday, the Saudi prosecution announced the results of its investigation, saying that 21 people had been detained and 11 were charged with involvement in the murder, five of whom could face the death penalty.

]]>At least 63 dead in California fire as number of missing jumps past 600https://www.flurudha.com/2018/11/at-least-63-dead-in-california-fire-as-number-of-missing-jumps-past-600/
Fri, 16 Nov 2018 04:51:59 +0000https://www.flurudha.com/?p=146774The Camp Fire, which erupted a week ago in the drought-parched Sierra foothills 280 km north of San Francisco and now ranks as one of the most lethal single US wildfires since the turn of the last century.

A police officer stretches crime scene tape around an area where human remains were found in a car that was destroyed by the Camp Fire on November 15, 2018 in Paradise, California.
A police officer stretches crime scene tape around an area where human remains were found in a car that was destroyed by the Camp Fire on November 15, 2018 in Paradise, California. (AFP)
The search for victims of a catastrophic blaze that reduced a northern California town to ashes intensified on Thursday and authorities said the list of those reported missing had expanded to more than 600 in the deadliest wildfire in California history.

At least 63 people have been confirmed dead so far in the Camp Fire, which erupted a week ago in the drought-parched Sierra foothills 280 km north of San Francisco and now ranks as one of the most lethal single US wildfires since the turn of the last century.

Authorities attributed the high death toll in part to the staggering speed with which the wind-driven flames, fueled by desiccated scrub and trees, raced through Paradise, a town of 27,000 residents.

Huge losses

Nearly 9,000 homes and other buildings, including most of the town, were incinerated last Thursday night, hours after the blaze erupted, according to the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (Cal Fire).

What was left was a ghostly, smoky expanse of empty lots covered in ash and strewn with twisted wreckage and debris.

Thousands of additional structures were still threatened by the blaze, and as many as 50,000 people remained under evacuation orders.

An army of firefighters, many from distant states, labored to contain and suppress the flames.

The revised official roster of 630 individuals whose whereabouts and fate remained unknown is more than double the 297 listed earlier in the day by the Butte County Sheriff’s Office.

Sheriff Kory Honea said the list of missing would continue to fluctuate as more names are added and others are removed, either because they turn up safe or come to be identified among the dead.

The higher confirmed death toll, and rising number of people classified as unaccounted for, were revealed at an evening news briefing by Honea, who said the remains of seven more Camp Fire victims had been located since the previous tally of 56 was announced on Wednesday.

]]>Finally Sonila Meço returns to the screen, revealing which television you will seehttps://www.flurudha.com/2018/11/finally-sonila-meco-returns-to-the-screen-revealing-which-television-you-will-see/
Fri, 16 Nov 2018 04:25:26 +0000https://www.flurudha.com/?p=146771Sonila Meço returns to the screen. Finally, the renowned journalist is “persuaded” to restore her greatest desire to journalism. Disconnected for 3 years from the screen, Sonila will now be part of Ora News.

Through an article in the News Bomb Sonila has provided the long-awaited news that will be part of television with a weekly show of her. Sonila has accompanied her return to television with a status on Instagram.

“When Macron in his first interview as president of France was asked what is the love for you, so rumored and anathematized by unconventional marriage with a 25-year-old woman, he simply replied:” My love for me is to come back at home and find someone who tells the truth in the eye. “We turn around and strive in this world for a bit more of everything, but the essence remains the same, a painful sequence for a clean meeting with the truth. The non-negotiable mission of journalism. My great desire, “wrote Sonila on Instagram.

]]>Alfio makes a tattoo for Fatma, has a special meaning for himhttps://www.flurudha.com/2018/11/alfio-makes-a-tattoo-for-fatma-has-a-special-meaning-for-him/
Fri, 16 Nov 2018 04:22:47 +0000https://www.flurudha.com/?p=146768Eh love … How nice the feeling is. It makes people realize what they had not previously thought they would do. For example, the well-known chief of the kitchen, Alfio Rrotani, could possibly make any other tattoo in his body, but a small heart would probably not realize it if he had not known Fatma.

At the “Five Invitation” show on Top Channel, Fatma showed how Alfio was calling. “Little red heart” is all Alfio looks at Fatma. Where is this more beautiful than that? In fact, this little red heart is not just a playful way of how Alfio calls Fatma. It’s far more than that. Alfio has shown today through a post on Instagram that this little heart is engraved forever on his skin as a tattoo. A dedication for Fatma to thank him for the two most beautiful years he has donated.

“I continue and think that there are not so beautiful words to tell you how much I love you! … So I decided to have you in my skin to thank for the two most beautiful years of my life,” writes Alfio for Fatma .

]]>Albania likely to sack Panucci in case of failure in next two gameshttps://www.flurudha.com/2018/11/albania-likely-to-sack-panucci-in-case-of-failure-in-next-two-games/
Fri, 16 Nov 2018 04:17:47 +0000https://www.flurudha.com/?p=146765The upcoming Nations League qualifier against Scotland and a friendly with Wales in the next few days could prove decisive for Christian Panucci and his fate as Albania’s coach, Albania’s football association president has warned.

“We have to win against Scotland, if we make it, it won’t be a failure. We have a lot of absences which is a great problem, but Panucci’s performance will be analyzed after the next two games. Panucci needs everybody’s support, the campaign will not be a failure if we win against Scotland,” Albania’s football president Armand Duka said this week in the first direct warning about Panucci who has been in charge of Albania since July 2017, succeeding compatriot Gianni De Biasi who led Albania to a first-ever appearance at a major competition such as Euro 2016.

The warning comes as Albania faces a key test in a final qualifier against Scotland on Saturday Nov. 17 that will prove decisive for the national side’s further progress at the inaugural Nations League, a UEFA tournament that largely replaces friendlies, but also plays a major part for the Euro 2020 qualifying campaign by deciding the final four places via play-offs.

It also comes at a time when pressure has been mounting on coach Panucci, a renowned former Italian international who played for top European clubs, but had little coaching experience when taking over as Albania coach. The 45-year-old Italian has lost seven out of 12 games since taking over in mid-2017 and Albania now almost find themselves out of the Nations League competition as they rank bottom of their League C Group 1 with only three points from their first three games. Albania need to beat Scotland by at least three goals in their final home qualifier and hope Scotland beat Israel in their final group encounter on Nov. 20 to possibly qualify through superior goal difference in case all three teams finish level on six points in what is a little likely scenario.

Albania will also play a tough home friendly against top-20 FIFA ranked Wales on Nov. 20 ahead of the Euro 2020 qualifying campaign, scheduled to begin in March 2019 after ten groups are drawn in December 2018.

However, in case of poor performance in the upcoming two home games Albania is likely to sack to Panucci and look for a new coach ahead of the Euro 2020 qualifiers.

Panucci, who was hired on a two-and-a-half year contract, has been set a Euro 2020 qualification target.

]]>Premier League clubs agree to adopt VAR next seasonhttps://www.flurudha.com/2018/11/premier-league-clubs-agree-to-adopt-var-next-season/
Fri, 16 Nov 2018 04:15:31 +0000https://www.flurudha.com/?p=146762Premier League clubs have agreed in principle to introduce video assistant referees (VAR) from the start of next season, they said Thursday.

The top leagues in Spain, Italy and Germany are already using VAR, which allows disputed incidents to be reviewed with the use of video replays, and the technology was used at the World Cup in Russia this year.

The English clubs were provided with an update on this season’s VAR trials, with key examples of its use in the FA Cup and League Cup discussed in detail.

“The League will now formally make a request to the International Football Association Board and (world body) FIFA to use VAR next season,” the Premier League said in a statement.

The League has been using goal line technology since 2013.

In April, Premier League clubs voted against the introduction of VAR for the 2018-19 season. But there have been growing calls from managers and players for VAR to be introduced into the English top-flight for several years.

On Saturday, Southampton forward Charlie Austin called for VAR after he was denied a goal for offside against Watford, a decision he called a “joke.”

Also last weekend, Slavisa Jokanovic, since sacked as Fulham manager, was furious after Aleksandar Mitrovic was denied a goal by a controversial offside decision, with Liverpool going straight down the other end to take the lead.

“The Premier League’s non-live testing program will remain in place for the rest of this season, with a continued emphasis on those Saturday afternoons which have several matches being played concurrently,” the League added.

VAR is used to check goals, penalties — both awarded and not — direct red cards and cases of mistaken identity when a player is wrongly booked or sent off.

The referee has the information relayed through his earpiece by the VAR team.

For some incidents, he can review the footage on a pitch-side television monitor before deciding whether to change his initial call.

]]>Italy aim to give Portugal a hard time in Nations Leaguehttps://www.flurudha.com/2018/11/italy-aim-to-give-portugal-a-hard-time-in-nations-league/
Fri, 16 Nov 2018 04:14:26 +0000https://www.flurudha.com/?p=146759Having nothing to lose could be Italy’s strong point when they welcome Portugal Saturday in Milan, looking to clinch at least a temporary top spot in Group A3 of the Nations League.

Finishing first to access the tournament’s four-team finals in June is unlikely for the Azzurri as they sit two points behind the European champions, who lead on six points and can secure top spot with a draw in Milan, beside having one more game to play at home to relegated Poland.

The four-time world champions, however, are certain to remain in League A after beating Poland 1-0 last month and this week displayed a bright mood at the Coverciano camp outside Florence.

“We want to continue on the path we began against Ukraine [drawing 1-1 in an October friendly] and Poland, looking to improve mostly on our finishing,” coach Roberto Mancini said as an almost full house is expected at the 80,000-seat Giuseppe Meazza.

Playing in Milan seems a way to exorcise the ghosts from last November when a 0-0 draw with Sweden there saw Italy fail to enter the World Cup finals for the first time in 60 years.

The appointment of Mancini in May was a crucial step in a reorganization that continued in October with the election of Gabriele Gravina, a long-time football official, as president of the domestic federation FIGC, following an interim administration. Despite the effective tactics displayed in recent outings, weakness up front remains an issue, with a negative 7-8 goal difference from the seven games under Mancini, two wins, three draws, two defeats. “You don’t need physique but good feet,” Napoli’s diminutive winger Lorenzo Insigne said. “And here we have many small guys with good feet. We created a lot in the last two games, but we miss ruthlessness before the goal, including myself.” Insigne, who has scored seven goals in 12 Serie A games, should play next to youngster Federico Chiesa, but Mancini has lost the versatile Federico Bernardeschi to injury and could consider the powerful Ciro Immobile, on eight league goals for Lazio, as third attacker.

Mancini called up another striker, Vincenzo Grifo from German side Hoffenheim, and two more newcomers in midfield, Stefano Sensi and Sandro Tonali, who join Insigne in the Azzurri’s small-guy division. Both Sassuolo’s Sensi and Tonali, an 18-year-old talent with lower-division Brescia, vie for the playmaker role now filled by Marco Verratti of Paris Saint-Germain.

Captain Giorgio Chellini is set to play his 100th game with La Nazionale, manning the defense next to Juventus teammate Leonardo Bonucci as AC Milan youngster Gianluigi Donnarumma should be confirmed between the sticks.

Italy then play a friendly against the United States Tuesday in Genk, Belgium, where the European ruling body UEFA is to test for the first time VAR (video assistant referee) technology.

]]>Prime Minister Haradinaj, Kosovo has created legal infrastructure to transfer products from foreign marketshttps://www.flurudha.com/2018/11/prime-minister-haradinaj-kosovo-has-created-legal-infrastructure-to-transfer-products-from-foreign-markets/
Fri, 16 Nov 2018 04:10:55 +0000https://www.flurudha.com/?p=146755“As a Government, we are ready to interact, so our products in Kosovo, the achievements of our producers, the clothing industry, to place and not just that , we are interested to bring investors to you” ,so said the Prime Minister of the Republic of Kosovo, Ramush Haradinaj, at the opening of the second edition of the Kosovo Clothes Convention.

On this occasion, Prime Minister Haradinaj said that he is here to see the brands of Kosovo which are presented with designs created by students and related with clothing and in this way it is created also an economic stability every day more.

Prime Minister Haradinaj, especially for the whole this event, thanked the US Embassy, USAID , but also all those who have expressed their concern and support to help the clothing manufacturers in Kosovo.

“Export of Kosovo , according to the Ministry of Trade and Industry 2016-2018 is around 20.5 million euros, while import in the same period of time in the same products is 228.6 million euros ” , said Prime Minister Haradinaj , adding that the value of a clothing product when we export, its value is close to 4 euros, while the one we import is 7.5 euros, which means almost double.

Prime Minister Haradinaj said that seeing that the export is smaller and the cost of importing clothes is twice as high, then we should support the producers with the new brands which are presenting them with the funds we have allocated to the Ministry of Innovation.

Seeing that this industry can be important and can give its own results, Prime Minister Haradinaj emphasized that we should be careful also in vocational education, that creative skills of students to connect with manufacturers and to have the quality to become competitive in the market.

“Kosovo has established legal infrastructure to transfer products from markets and there is no need for partners who could have invested with you, go too far, but can invest in Kosovo, “said Prime Minister Haradinaj, adding that the opportunities are long-term with the creation of economic zones, one of which is the American Economic Zone.

Prime Minister Haradinaj clarified that those who invest in Kosovo, the tax in dividend is zero; profit tax is 10 percent , the smallest in the region; wage tax does not go over 10 percent; is a zero tax with EU states; the transport is the cheapest and by all this it is certain that from a product that is produced in Kosovo, could come out and enter the EU market by 30 to 40 percent cheaper than a product produced elsewhere in Europe.

At the opening of this convention, Charge d’Affairs of US Embassy in Kosovo addressed with the speech, Collen Hyland, Head of the Swedish Agency for International Cooperation and Development at the Swedish Embassy in Pristina, Nasrin Pourghazian, Kosovo Association of Clothing Marketing Association Chairperson, Bardha Sadrija and business representatives.

The Kosovo Clothes Convention is organized every year to promote clothing manufacturers of Kosovo and to support the growth of the clothing industry in Kosovo.

]]>US sanctions 17 Saudis for role in Khashoggi murderhttps://www.flurudha.com/2018/11/us-sanctions-17-saudis-for-role-in-khashoggi-murder/
Fri, 16 Nov 2018 04:09:09 +0000https://www.flurudha.com/?p=146751The U.S. Treasury announced Thursday punishing sanctions on 17 Saudis for their role in the killing of journalist Jamal Khashoggi at the Saudi consulate in Istanbul.

Those sanctioned include Saud al-Qahtani, a former top aide to Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, as well as the Saudi Consul General Mohammed al-Otaibi.

The sanctions were declared after Riyadh’s public prosecutor announced that five officials face a possible death sentence in the case but exculpated the prince.

“The Saudi officials we are sanctioning were involved in the abhorrent killing of Jamal Khashoggi. These individuals who targeted and brutally killed a journalist who resided and worked in the United States must face consequences for their actions,” said Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin.

The sanctions came amid widespread anger among Saudi allies over the killing and dismemberment of Khashoggi on Oct. 2 in the Saudi consulate in Istanbul, Turkey.

Khashoggi, 59, was a veteran Saudi journalist who wrote for the Washington Post and other international media. He had become one of the leading public critics of Prince Mohammed, whose father is the Saudi king.

The U.S. Treasury said Qahtani, Prince Mohammed’s long-time right-hand man, “was part of the planning and execution of the operation” to kill Khashoggi.

Maher Mutreb, an aide to Qahtani who has appeared in photographs with Prince Mohammed on official visits this year to the United States and Europe, was also included on the blacklist.

But the Treasury did not point any fingers at Prince Mohammed, who the Saudi government has insisted did not order the killing.

The sanctions, which fall under the U.S. Global Magnitsky Human Rights Accountability Act, freeze any assets those blacklisted have under U.S. jurisdiction and forbid Americans and U.S. companies from doing business with them.

Under heavy pressure from Turkey, the United States, Britain and France, Riyadh has admitted that Khashoggi was murdered in the consulate and said it would punish those involved.

Earlier Thursday the state prosecutor’s office announced that 21 individuals had been taken into custody and charges set against 11 of them.

Five of them face possible execution for the murder, according to the prosecutor.

Mnuchin said Washington would persist in pressuring Riyadh for justice in the case.

“The United States continues to diligently work to ascertain all of the facts and will hold accountable each of those we find responsible in order to achieve justice for Khashoggi’s fiancée, children, and the family he leaves behind,” he said in a statement.

“The Government of Saudi Arabia must take appropriate steps to end any targeting of political dissidents or journalists.”

]]>Prime Minister Haradinaj: Kosovo needs to make good planning for water reserves , for collectors and to build a strategy in this areahttps://www.flurudha.com/2018/11/prime-minister-haradinaj-kosovo-needs-to-make-good-planning-for-water-reserves-for-collectors-and-to-build-a-strategy-in-this-area/
Fri, 16 Nov 2018 04:06:35 +0000https://www.flurudha.com/?p=146747The Prime Minister of the Republic of Kosovo, Ramush Haradinaj, chaired the ninth meeting of the Inter-Ministerial Water Council, in which was reviewed the launch for the increase of new water capacity and the assurance of existing accumulation and the establishment of a working group for the assessment of new water capacity and safety of existing accumulation.

On this occasion, Prime Minister Haradinaj said that sewage management projects are extremely important, stressing that besides the emergency work they do, such as drinking water supply, construction of plans for sewage purification, and many other aspects ,long-term planning needs to be done.

“Kosovo needs to make good planning of water reserves, collectors, to build a strategy , with which Kosovo will be able to take its obligations, and also would offer it to international partners, monetary financial institutions, “said Prime Minister Haradinaj, hoping that the partnership launched for the waters will not remain halfway.

Meanwhile, Baton Begolli, Water Policy Advisor in the Inter-ministerial Water Council, assessed that Kosovo needs the support of donors because, as he added, our country does not have capacity for the development of new water resources.

At the meeting today , Ambassador of Switzerland to Kosovo , Jean-Hubert Lebet , said that all that the work which was done needs to be monitored in order to see where needs to be paid greater attention ,and to see the main challenges for the future, also expressing the willingness of the Swiss state to assist the Government of Kosovo, respectively the Ministry of Environment and Spatial Planning, as far as the water sector is concerned.

German Ambassador Christian Heldt, speaking about updating the sewage treatment plant in Pristina, stressed that negotiations for two years cooperation have begun and for Germany , but also for Switzerland, it is worth knowing the state of works with that certain project, because in dealing with sewage the issues are related to one another.

In this meeting were also discussed the following issues: implementation of the Kosovo Water Law, review of the establishment of the River Basin District Authority in the central state administration body, review of the status amending of the RWC Bifurkacioni from the Municipal Public Enterprise in the Central Public Enterprise and the completion of the consolidation process with the municipalities of Hani i Elezit and Štrpce, review of the approval of the analysis and draft regulation on the structure of water payments, review of the draft decision on treatment of social cases in the water services sector.
Also present at this meeting were Minister of Economic Development, Valdrin Lluka, Minister of Environment and Spatial Planning, Fatmir Matoshi, Deputy Ministers and other institutional officials

I am really happy to be here at Kuçova base to discuss the next year’s defense budget as part of a series of planned meetings to introduce the upcoming 2019 state budget. But I am also happy to be here and point out an extremely important fact for the future of our Armed Forces, transformation of this base into a NATO tactical support base.

This is a town traditionally identified with the aviation. Around 700 people, including aviators, aircraft mechanics and technicians, aviation officers and ordinary workers, were employed in this base. We know how the history goes then. Since the ’90s, this area of strategic importance to the country’s defense and our Armed Forces turned into an abandoned space until when, thanks to the commitment and seriousness, but above all, thanks to the respect our Armed Forces have gained among our NATO partners, we drew up NATO’s commitment to invest over 50 million euros in this base, which serve as a support base for the Alliance’s supplies, logistics, air policing, training and drills. The facility will also serve as a national base for Albania’s air forces, in efforts to set a new standard of our Armed Forces in this special sector.

The investment will open up new economic and social development opportunities for the entire area. Construction of this airbase, incorporating cutting-edge technology, will boost employment and it will translate into stronger economy and growing consumption in the area.

I think everybody is paying attention on our strong and serious commitment to meeting essential objectives set forth by the Alliance for each member state and the 2019 defense budget is a reflection of our country’s commitment and seriousness that were affirmed by the U.S. President himself at the latest NATO Summit. Albania’s defense budget in 2019 actually totals to 22 billion lek, or $ 220 million, up by more than 10% compared to this year.

In line with the commitment and, at the same time, with the objectives for enhancing and further strengthening our Armed Forces capacities, this budget will be made available to our army to achieve a number of important goals, from the modernization of the light infantry battalions, certified by the Alliance experts upon conclusion of the one-week “Albanian Lion Visa 18” military exercise, to improving other capabilities and basic equipment for Armed Forces members; purchase of light weapons, ammunition and accessories needed for these forces; making the integrated aerospace surveillance system operational, a project that is being developed in partnership with our strategic partner, the United States of America; improvement of the integrated maritime surveillance system. The two systems are crucially important to every aspect of our country’s defense and security, as well as a contribution to the NATO’s shared security architecture and the inter-institutional cooperation in the fight against illicit trafficking.

We have advanced cooperation with our strategic partner, the United States of America, to modernize capacities of Albanian Air Force and we will keep on working to materialize all these key points, because, in addition to the modernization of this air base here in Kuçova, we will continue with the modernization project of the Farka air base.

The funding allocated to the Ministry of Defense, in parallel with the fulfillment of the constitutional mission of the Armed Forces, will result in better and growing infrastructure in support of rural communities. Most recently, the Minister of Defense – and I avail myself if this occasion to appreciate her for the commitment and seriousness while in charge of the Ministry of Defense – has outlined an extremely important work being carried out by the Armed Forces as part of flood prevention and mitigation program, by operating on the ground in the area of Fier, where they are still engaged in intensive actions and working overtime.

This was just a brief general outline of a series and important objectives of the Ministry of Defense to combine successful accomplishment of the constitutional mission of the Armed Forces with the efforts to move ahead with work already underway to improve infrastructure in the flood-prone areas and support local communities.

Likewise, together with the Ministry of Health and Social Protection, the Ministry of Defense, in collaboration with a highly successful voluntary organization, are working to establish the new National Emergency and Solidarity Centre.

It is a pleasure to finally say in front of you and in front of all those who contribute to the Armed Forces that after many years, somehow overshadowed in terms of cash and income benefits, we will significantly raise the salaries of all workers and members of the Armed Forces.

The pay raise will be much higher than the figure you already saw on the screen, because after work on the state budget draft, together with the Minister of Defense and thanks to her insistence, we won the debate with the Ministry of Finance and allocate a much considerable budget to the Armed Forces, starting with a 19% pay hike for the soldiers and the pay will increase further according to the rank for the military personnel.

This is the highest pay raise in the history of the Armed Forces, a fully deserved increase precisely because the Armed Forces they have made Albania proud and respectable.

Our partners have expressed excellent opinions on our troops’ missions and the people who have served and have represented Albania in these missions. It was also a surprise to all and we have won great acclaim for our teams’ performance at the Exercise Cambrian Patrol in the United Kingdom, where we claimed Bronze Medal. Indeed, we won nothing, but our troops did and thanks to them we are now given the opportunity to brag about right in the eyes of the great powers that were represented by larger patrol numbers but trailed behind the Albanian patrol men.

I want to once again express my appreciation and deep respect for your sacrifices. I am convinced you deserve a lot more than we can do under the new 2019 state budget. But I am also convinced that in the significant pay raise you will feel a concrete expression of our attention, respect and gratitude for you.

Thank you very much for whatever you do. I also want to express particular respect and gratitude for your families who are the ones sacrificing even more than you do by living with your constant absence due to missions and often difficult tasks away from home. And we are very pleased to provide concrete expression of our attention and respect for them with the 2019 budget.

]]>Modern equipment to guarantee Vlora water supply systemhttps://www.flurudha.com/2018/11/modern-equipment-to-guarantee-vlora-water-supply-system/
Fri, 16 Nov 2018 04:01:19 +0000https://www.flurudha.com/?p=146741The sewerage system in the city of Vlora will be monitored and guaranteed for its proper operation, thanks to the new government investment in equipment and modern machineries worth 1.5 million euros.

Vlora’s state-run water supply and sewerage company, the main beneficiary of the investment, provides its services to Vlora, Novosela, Orikum and Shushice.

Prime Minister Edi Rama, accompanied by the Minister of Infrastructure and Energy Damian Gjiknuri, and Vlora Mayor Dritan Leli, visited the water supply and sewerage company in the southern coastal city, where a fleet of new equipment and machineries are about to be installed.

Vlora Mayor Leli said in his remarks that the state-of-the-art equipment that allow for remote control and supervision of the sewerage system provide for effective maintenance and operation of the major investments carried out in the area’s water supply and sewerage system. “This equipment is provided by the Albanian government through the Ministry of Infrastructure and energy to ensure operation and maintenance of the investments in the sewerage system of the city of Vlora mainly in the area of the Waterfront Promenade, but also in other parts of the city. The equipment cost around 1.5 million euros and it features an electronic system that allows for remote control of the entire sewerage system of the city,” Leli said.

The investment heralds another important project on rehabilitation of the city’s sewerage system with a direct impact on tourism. “Next year we will kick off the major project on upgrading the whole waste water disposal and sewerage system. Once the project completes – the project has been already designed and due funding has been allocated – it will ultimately address the sewerage system problem in the Lungomare area. No sewage will be discharged in Lungomare, so that we will finally address an inherited problem about which citizens and tourists complained,” Gjiknuri said.

Prime Minister Edi Rama described Vlora as a model of development, pledging that government will keep on implementing more investment projects. He said that Lungomare beach will turn into a true and genuine tourist attraction should the inherited sewerage problem is ultimately solved. “It is for sure that the entire Lungomare beach stretch will become a spectacular and popular tourist attraction. But to make it spectacular and popular, the 70-year-old problem of sewerage system should be finally tackled. The new project will finally address this problem. The due funding is included in the upcoming state budget. Procurement and tender procedures will be launched immediately next year and work to rehabilitate and upgrade whole sewerage system in the area of Lungomare will start in order to put an end to sewage disposal to sea once and for good and make the beach popular for holidaymakers and help the local tourism and economy develop further. This is an important development, just like this fleet of special machineries to monitor the entire sewage system that is welcomed in Vlora, which is a model for development and where we will continue to invest.”

]]>Adding new dimension to port of Vlorahttps://www.flurudha.com/2018/11/adding-new-dimension-to-port-of-vlora/
Fri, 16 Nov 2018 03:59:19 +0000https://www.flurudha.com/?p=146738An investment project worth almost € 15 million, the largest ever implemented in the port of Vlora, second largest port in Albania, will add a new dimension to the role and functioning of this important gateway to one of Albania’s most famous coastal cities and popular tourist destinations. The project has been designed to match with the port’s new development perspective and profile as a major harbor for anchoring and ferry processing. In addition to this major investment, a project on expansion of the passenger terminal is also underway in an investment worth about 213 million lek. The port structure has expanded and envisages the processing of 3 to 4 ferries at the same time in a project designed to reconstruct and expand the port’s western quay, advance the offshore belt linking the two existing quays and deepen the basin and extend the processing facilities by about 3 hectares.

Prime Minister Edi Rama inspected the ongoing works at the Vlora port. The port’s Director Admir Malaj said that the new passengers will complete in the next two months, whereas 80 percent of works to expand the two quays have already completed. “The new terminal, a project worth 212 million lek, covers an area of about 2700 square meters. The old terminal’s area was around 383 square meters and offered only a few number of handling and service facilities. The entrance will be entirely built with thermal glass façade. The Border Police will be housed in new expanded facilities that will process around 3000 passengers. Next year, by the next tourism season, I believe that along with new quay expansion project we will provide access for a larger number of passengers. The works to construct the terminal will complete in two months,” Malaj said.

PM Rama noted in his remarks that the port will mostly help development of tourism sector and it needs to integrate with the Vlora Waterfront Promenade, or Lungomare, so that it becomes accessible to every citizen. “The next challenge we face is to draft the urban plan for the entire area, so that it becomes part of the city. The port cannot be isolated from the rest of the city. We will then embark on the next phase of the Waterfront Promenade project on the other side. However, a plan should be designed soon in order to link the port with Waterfront Promenade. This is the focal point for now,” PM Rama said.

Vlora Mayor Dritan Leli said that the city’s urban planning foresees the rehabilitation of the whole area stretching between the port and the Waterfront Promenade.

On his part, the Minister of Infrastructure and Energy Damian Gjiknuri underlined that efforts are underway to introduce a new ferry line for which an Albanian company is ready to invest, thus giving a very positive impact to tourism in the country.

The existing passenger terminal of Vlora port covers an area of around 400 square meters and it fails to meet the basic conditions for the growing number of passengers moving through this port. The terminal expansion project consists of increasing service quality, speed in processing operations and controls, and functional environments to handle any influx of people at peat season.

]]>OSHEE employs SCADA system for system’s online supervisionhttps://www.flurudha.com/2018/11/oshee-employs-scada-system-for-systems-online-supervision/
Fri, 16 Nov 2018 03:57:44 +0000https://www.flurudha.com/?p=146734The power distribution operator OSHEE will monitor every business processes and workplace operations via the Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition system (SCADA), which will provide online real-time data gathering and processing to supervise power substations, prevent any breakdowns, check and operate the whole power grid, feeders and electric transformer cabins. The system will also allow online supervision of the electricity generation processes at the country’s hydropower plants. The power utility has invested around 187 million lek for implementation of the SCADA system at the Central Power Distribution Unit and installation of the online platform initially in main electric substations in Tirana. Under the old system, the operations were carried out manually and were slow, whereas the newly-built smart operational facilities of the SCADA system provide for the online operation and monitoring of every work process.

Prime Minister Edi Rama, accompanied by the Minister of Infrastructure and Energy Damian Gjiknuri, visited the Central Power Distribution Control Room as well as the newly built OSHEE premises that provide decent conditions for the OSHEE employees and customers alike to prevent the queue line and reduce wait times.

“We used to pay around 420 000 euros a year in rent at two apartment buildings and citizens had to wait in long queue lines at the garage. We were supplied no server, while no customer service premises were available. We had no archive, we had absolutely nothing. We had to seek outside premises in order to hold a regular meeting of the company. Now we have this new building and 10 000 square meters of offices, constructed in a project worth 4.5 million euro,” the Director of the OSHEE, Ardian Çela said.

The Central Control Room for the High Voltage System also marks another radical transformation in terms of power grid supervision and remote data gathering and processing. “This is the new SCADA system, initially installed at six power substations that will be all supervised and controlled online. The system prevents power failures, detects electrical overload and the operation time is very fast. We expect to extend the system to 12 power substations within December and to over 50 out of 60 main power stations across the country in 2019. The system will allow for real-time data gathering and processing on all power substations,” the Head of the OSHEE said.

Apart from the power substations, OSHEE has implemented investment projects to modernize over 100 electric transformer cabins in Tirana, Durrës and Vlora, online connected with the distribution centers of the respective regional directorates. In 2019, operation with the SCADA system will extend even further, with more than 250 automated cabins in Tirana.

For the first time this year, Albania’s food exports are valued at over $300 million, up from a total of $150 million in agricultural exports when we took office and took over the work to govern Albania. The country’s agricultural exports have doubled. This is a figure that speaks for itself to all hardened cynics, who, without having a single idea of what is taking place in the space of the Albanian countryside, talk in vain refusing to taking into account this simple truth.

Likewise, for the first time this year, agricultural imports have not increased, suggesting that locally grown food and agricultural products keep growing meeting the country’s needs.

The next year’s state budget on agriculture will be higher than eight years in office of the previous government combined. I am not talking about the overall budget, but the direct support for farmers as, thanks to the extraordinary work we have done and thanks to the trust we have put in the Agricultural and Rural Development Agency, we earned accreditation from the European Union and a new financial assistance to support Albanian agriculture will be launched together with Albanian government’s programme worth over EUR 20 million being launched for the second consecutive year, something that was unimaginable few years ago.

We have eased the application process by adopting a zero-document policy for every individual seeking to benefit under the support scheme and asking for the relevant documentation only after winning projects are announced. This make the application process for the support schemes involve zero related cost and practically puts an end starting this year to the months of terrible dallying and all kinds of torments people have gone through over the years.

We are witnessing a big change to the country’s fishing industry. This industry grew by 34% over the first nine months of this year. Our goal is to make sure that impact of fishing industry in the country’s exports to equal the value of the agricultural exports as a whole over the next three or four years. It is an epochal transformation of approach to the fisheries and aquaculture economy and a whole new space for employment growth with wages higher than those in other sectors.

We will keep on investing in irrigation and drainage systems, investing in flood prevention and protection projects. Indeed, for first time ever, an intensive work is being carried out by the Armed Forces for weeks now, in collaboration with Fier Municipality, to further prevent Vjosa River floods. Meanwhile, a program is being advanced in cooperation with the Republic of Turkey, which will hopefully yield significant final results in flood prevention capacities and efforts, because not everything can be prevented.

I am making a parenthesis; You already know that Italy was hit by a deadly weather offensive few days ago. A dozens of people lost their lives, but I believe no one has seen a political battle in the wake of such a natural disaster with the Italian government being accused of what happened. I mean, a country can be hit by natural disasters that go beyond the prevention and defence capacities. But what we should do is to work in order to build maximum defence capacities that, unfortunately, we still have to build as we inherited a zero-prevention and protection capacities situation, but these capacities are being strengthened year by year.

The concrete implementation of the national programme 100 Villages is set to commence this year. Discussions with the relevant Ministry are underway aimed at gaining another European funding scheme and include local government in the process of submitting applications from the Agricultural and Rural Development Agency.

More than once, like never before, we have been talking about the food safety over this period. All those who were used to fool consumers are alarmed like never before. A number of mouthpieces of the media trash have been paid like never before to lash out at the National Food Authority and report over alleged grave food safety incidents or alleged corruption practices. The truth is that their time is no longer the one that used to be. It has completely changed.

We have waged a frontal battle to ensure full food safety. Of course, a lot remains to be done in the area of food safety. On the course of this battle, more cases of food safety concerns have been discovered, just like more corruption practices within the Agency ranks have emerged. But all these are simply an indicator of the fact that a true war has been waged for over a year to ensure food safety and this war will go on.

I want to tell everyone that apart from what they watch on TV screens, such reports are not always untrue, they are not always defamations and lies, and they are not always efforts to manipulate the public opinion in interest of certain lobby groups and in exchange of cash payments to hit the National Food Authority and the Ministry of Agriculture. There are cases showing true problems over food safety concerns. But food safety in Albania today is higher than ever before. But compared to where and what we should achieve, undoubtedly a lot remains to be done.

Likewise, apart from what the minister highlighted as incentives and support in terms of fiscal burden, I want to emphasize that we are in a discussion process. We haven’t forgotten our promise to levy a zero VAT rate on agricultural inputs. We can now afford to drastically cut the VAT rate on agricultural inputs, taking notice of the fact that food safety is inextricably linked to the inputs quality, considering also the fact that inputs sale involves problems that are also related to the fiscal burden and therefore farmers opt to find other ways out.

We are finalizing a discussion to reconsider the existing VAT reimbursement scheme that has turned out to be a positive one, but by mainly favouring enterprises involved in agricultural goods collection activities, and to review the VAT scheme on inputs. We have agreed to cut the VAT rate to 6 percent only from a current 20% percent rate on the agricultural inputs. We also exploring ways to lower the reimbursement level for enterprises involved in collection practices as they have somehow showed considerable lack of respect for the scheme, refusing to share the scheme’s success with farmers.

This is still under discussion and I believe that during hearing sessions at the Parliamentary Committee and until the state budget law is finally adopted, we will be able to send a good news to farmers all over Albania on a significant reduction of the VAT rate on agricultural inputs, seeds, fertilizers, seedlings and so on.

Thank you!

]]>Japan’s cybersecurity minister admits he’s never used a computerhttps://www.flurudha.com/2018/11/japans-cybersecurity-minister-admits-hes-never-used-a-computer/
Fri, 16 Nov 2018 03:54:23 +0000https://www.flurudha.com/?p=146728A Japanese minister in charge of cybersecurity measures for the 2020 Tokyo Olympics told parliament that he has never used a computer in his life, local media reported on Thursday.

“Since I was 25 years old and independent, I have instructed my staff and secretaries. I have never used a computer in my life,” Yoshitaka Sakurada said on Wednesday in response to an opposition lawmaker’s question, according to Kyodo News agency.

He also made comments showing he has no idea what a USB port is. When asked about the power grid and malware, Sakurada said USB was “basically never used” in the utility systems, appearing to not know what it might be.

Lawmakers laughed incredulously at his replies, which were highlighted in Japanese media. Questioning and answers in Parliament are also carried live on national TV.

Ministers in Japan almost always get parliamentary questions in advance. Often their answers are based on briefings from ministry bureaucrats. In Sakurada’s exchange, bureaucrats were seen rushing over to give him sheets of paper with information.

“It’s a matter that should be dealt with by the government as a whole. I am confident that I am not at fault,” Sakurada said.

Opposition lawmaker Masato Imai responded, “I find it unbelievable that someone who is responsible for cybersecurity measures has never used a computer.”

Prime Minister Shinzo Abe appointed Sakurada as a cyber minister in October in a cabinet reshuffle, after the premier was re-elected as head of the Liberal Democratic Party.

Although the minister is not expected to have much hands-on responsibility in the handling of either cybersecurity or the Olympics, Sakurada’s high-profile bungling is an embarrassment for Abe.

Sakurada, 68, a graduate of Meiji University, was first elected to parliament in 1996, representing Chiba prefecture, near Tokyo.

His favorite issues are pushing for Japan’s economic prosperity and supporting its culture. “There is no genius that surpasses effort,” is his favorite motto.

The opposition VMRO-DPMNE party blames PM Zoran Zaev and his government of fabricating public statements in a bid to hush up their incapability.

“The president of VMRO-DPMNE Hristijan Mickoski neither knew nor took part in certain collusion to help Nikola Gruevski escape from Macedonia. Instead of seeking excuses, it is high time that Nikola Gruevski and interior minister Spasovski set down. The two are to be blamed for poor rule of law and non-functioning institutions in Macedonia,” VMRO-DPMNE says in a press release.

The party disapproves of Gruevski’s escape, saying it is not an option even if “everyone knows about the ongoing political persecution”.

“By throwing the blame on someone else, Gruevski and Spasovski do not aid Macedonia and the rule of law. The two should step down immediately,” the opposition party said.

]]>Ask the jurists, says Orban about Gruevski’s asylum claimhttps://www.flurudha.com/2018/11/ask-the-jurists-says-orban-about-gruevskis-asylum-claim/
Fri, 16 Nov 2018 03:49:41 +0000https://www.flurudha.com/?p=146722“Ask the jurists!” Hungarian Prime Miister Viktor Orban said Thursday when asked by 24.xy reporter to tell is it possible for a Macedonian criminal to illegally enter Hungary and still remain outside the transit zone.

Macedonia’s former prime minister Nikola Gruevski has sought asylum at a Hungarian representation outside Macedonia, Hungarian official said on Thursday, after he fled to Hungary earlier this week.

Gergely Gulyas, Prime Minister Viktor Orban’s chief of staff, said earlier today that Gruevski declared his intent to seek asylum at a Hungarian representative office and that Budapest had nothing to do with his exit from the homeland. He declined to specify in which country Gruevski had sought the asylum or how he made his way to the Immigration and Asylum Office in Budapest where he actually submitted his asylum documents.

Gulyas, however, made it clear that it was not the embassy in Macedonia.

Macedonian police issued an arrest warrant for the fugitive former prime minister after he failed to show up to begin his sentence, following a court ruling against his motion for a reprieve.

]]>Bulgarians rally against fuel price hikehttps://www.flurudha.com/2018/11/bulgarians-rally-against-fuel-price-hike/
Fri, 16 Nov 2018 03:47:44 +0000https://www.flurudha.com/?p=146719Protests were staged over the weekend in several cities in Bulgaria against rising fuel prices, Radio BNR reported.

Around 200 demonstrators blocked the road linking Bulgaria and Greece at the country’s southwest. Scores of black flag-waiving demonstrators had gathered outside several petrol stations in other parts of the country.

The price of fuel will depend on the US sanctions on Iran, due on Monday, analysts have said, noting that energy sector will be affected. Oil price in EU member-states upped by 5 percent from August to October.

Demonstrators claim the price of fuel – 1.2 euros per liter diesel and 1.9 euros per liter gasoline – are not in line with the national average monthly wage of 575 euros.

The plan to bring Internet access to remote parts of the country is opposed by Russia’s Federal Security Agency (FSB) because it says the project could be used to gather intelligence and damage national security.

The turn of events deals a blow to a host of Western companies, including Richard Branson’s Virgin Group, Qualcomm, Airbus, Japan’s SoftBank investment company and even Coca-Cola, which have invested in the project, as well as to Russia’s state corporation Roscosmos.

The provider signed a contract with Russia on the launch of 672 OneWeb satellites (their total number should be just fewer than 900) by Soyuz rockets. “A Russian agency, which launches anti-Russian satellites, that’s too much,” the paper says.

“Russian officials’ and security services interference in the plans of distinguished investors makes the story with OneWeb in Russia look tragic. However, is this terrible for OneWeb and Russian users, who may be cut off from satellite internet? One thing is clear – Russian citizens will definitely have access to mobile Internet. By the 2020s, when OneWeb reaches its design capacity, the coverage area of mobile operators will expand,” Vedomosti writes.

Speaking at a conference in Moscow in October, Federal Security Service official Vladimir Sadovnikov said the FSB was against the project servicing Russia for security reasons since it could potentially hand a foreign Internet service provider a monopoly over rural and remote areas.

“Some of Russia’s regions would become totally dependent on a foreign satellite service,” Sadovnikov said, adding that Moscow had not received any conclusive evidence that OneWeb’s satellites would not be used for intelligence gathering.

“The only way to address the threats of foreign satellite networks like OneWeb, especially in the Arctic region and Far North, is to restrict their usage in Russia,” Sadovnikov said, according to Reuters.